What’s happening in Phoenix this March?

I’ll be in Phoenix for part of March, so it’s a good time to take a look at what will be happening during the month.

The following is a round-up of some things that interest me. I hope they interest you too!

Phoenix events and activities for March 2017

Visual arts and sculpture

Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum has a nice collection, but the special exhibits are what make it worth the (relatively high) admission price.

I’d planned to skip PAM this year, but the upcoming exhibit of Samurai armor (March 1-July 16) is pretty enticing.

I can’t quite wrap my head around the museum’s other featured show, objects and video by the Propeller Group (through May 14). It seems it will be either mind-blowingly fascinating or just weird.

The Heard Museum

Despite frustration over membership issues (is it really necessary to make my husband the primary name on MY membership?) and dismay over curatorial decisions (the acquisition and dismantling of an important collection of Inuit art) the Heard Museum is still one of our usual stops when in Phoenix.

The current featured exhibit, Beauty Speaks for Us (through April 2), includes more than 200 “rarely seen master works” displayed in what appears to be new or completely reconfigured gallery space. It’s a must-see on my list for this year. The Creative Casting (ongoing) exhibit featuring bronzes by a number of artists also looks interesting.

For those who haven’t visited the Heard before, the museum’s signature permanent exhibit HOME: Native People in the Southwest is a must-see introduction to the area’s native history and culture.

Mesa Art Center

As we discovered last year, Mesa is becoming quite a center for the arts. We didn’t get to the Mesa Art Center then, but I think we will this year.

The art center is currently featuring its 38th Annual Contemporary Crafts exhibition (through April 23), a show that looks like exactly the sort of thing we would love. In addition, Bonnie Lambert’s show High Tension (through April 9), which transforms images of telephone poles and power lines into art, also sounds pretty interesting!

Western Spirit

I tried to get to Western Spirit, Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, a couple of years ago when they first opened and never got there. It’s time to check it out.

The current exhibition features work by the The Taos Society of Artists (through April 30). The exhibition highlights the art and careers of members of the art cooperative, which existed from 1915 to 1927 to promote paintings of Native Americans. It should be an interesting show.

Music

Musical Instrument Museum

After years of being told by everyone I meet that I simply must visit the Musical Instrument Museum, I think this is the year I’ll finally get there.

While the museum’s regular display from its vast collection sounds impressive, this season’s featured exhibit sounds absolutely gorgeous. Dragons and Vines: Inlaid Guitar Masterpieces includes guitars, banjos, and a ukulele decorated with detailed inlaid artwork. It sounds like a wonderful blend of the visual arts and music!

MIM also has a wonderful concert series, so maybe we’ll be able to catch a concert while we are in town too.

Baseball

Spring training will be underway in March, with a variety of teams playing in Phoenix while we are there.

I’ve thought about going to a spring training game for years now and never have. Last year I almost got tickets to see the Cubs – something that is likely to be almost impossible this year! Still, with all the teams in the Cactus League, there should be tickets available to see other teams play.

Architecture

My punishment for not planning far enough ahead is finding out that Modern Phoenix Week starts while I am in town and is already mostly sold out.